John Rose

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Chairman, the American people do not want their government dictating what type of straws they can drink from. A ``yes'' vote on my amendment is a resounding repudiation of the nanny state that the Biden administration is currently building via edicts from unelected bureaucrats. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Chair, it is time to get the government out of our drinks. I understand the concern that my colleague expresses, Mr. Chair, but I would say that the best way to avoid the need for congressional intervention would be for the administration to not be chasing its tail trying to force American consumers to make choices that are absolutely not clear in terms of the environmental impact that they would have. The plastic straw ban being implemented by the Department of the Interior is fundamentally and fatally flawed. Numerous scientific studies have cast serious doubts as to whether or not paper straws are more environmentally friendly than plastic straws. Mr. Chair, just listen to these headlines regarding paper straws. From the National Post, ``It turns out all those paper straws are bad for the environment too.'' From U.S. News & World Report, ``'Eco-Friendly' Paper Straws Contain Harmful PFAS Chemicals.'' Finally, from KSL News, ``Paper straws are no better than plastic, research says.'' Mr. Chair, I include in the Record these several articles. [From nationalpost.com, Aug. 29, 2023] It Turns Out All Those Paper Straws Are Bad for the Environment (By Tristin Hopper) Canada has legislated the mandatory adoption of paper straws just in time for new evidence to emerge that the new straws may be just as unsustainable as their plastic predecessors. A new study published in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants examined more than 20 different brands of plant- based straws and found high levels of toxic chemicals in almost all of them. ``These `eco-friendly' plant-based straws are not necessarily a more sustainable alternative to plastic straws,'' concluded a research team based at Belgium's University of Antwerp. Straws examined by the researchers were largely found to be laden with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as ``forever chemicals.'' This not only means that the straws likely aren't biodegradable, but that they are vectors for chemicals considered hazardous to human and environmental health. The report noted that even in situations where a plant- based straw doesn't become litter, it will most likely end up in a landfill where it will spend the rest of its lifecycle ``releasing PFAS further into the environment.'' ``Straws made from plant-based materials . . . are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic. However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that's not necessarily true,'' environmental scientist Thimo Groffen said in a press statement. Canada is in the midst of an all-out drive to prohibit the distribution of single-use plastics, with plastic straws being one of the most visible targets of the ban. In December 2022, Environment Canada made it illegal to manufacture or import plastic straws, cutlery and checkout bags, among others. At the end of this year, the sale of those products will also become prohibited. The transition is not free; even according to the most optimistic estimates of the Government of Canada, the average Canadian can expect to pay $50 apiece in the higher costs of plastic alternatives. The University of Antwerp team performed chemical analysis on 39 different types of straws sourced from Belgium supermarkets and fast food outlets: 20 paper, five glass, five bamboo, five stainless steel, and four plastic. Only the stainless-steel straws were found to be completely PFAS-free. The steel straws were also the only type that could realistically be recycled. Researchers were surprised to discover that even glass straws contained measurable amounts of forever chemicals. As to why these chemicals were so widespread in alternative straws, one reason is that they were added to make the products water-repellent. The Belgian study also noted that it might be partially unintended; with so many paper straws made from recycled materials, manufacturers might be unwittingly using raw ingredients that were previously infused with PFAS. Although Canada's straw ban has often pitched as a means to protect ocean health, the vast majority of plastic in the world's oceans comes from a handful of countries (largely in South Asia) that dump their waste directly onto beaches or into rivers. In Canada, by contrast, the vast majority of single-use plastics are captured by existing waste-management systems. A 2019 report commissioned by Environment Canada determined that of the 3,268 kilotonnes of plastic waste Canada generated in 2016, 3,239 kilotonnes were ``collected.'' Ottawa has also done little to no research on the environmental impacts or the potential unintended consequences of finding alternatives to single-use plastics. A Government of Canada report on alternatives to plastic straws and checkout bags simply advises retailers to find products that won't be ``problematic.'' That same report touts how Starbucks replaced plastic straws in 2019 with specialized ``strawless'' lids, but fails to note that the new lids actually contain more plastic than the prior cup/straw combo.

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Chair, my amendment will stop the nonsense that the Biden administration is trying to force upon the American people through the Department of the Interior by prohibiting any funds from being used to implement, administer, apply, enforce, or carry out any plastic straw prohibitions. Mr. Chair, in closing, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on my amendment and the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to remember a fallen officer from Tennessee, Sergeant William Cherry of the Macon County Sheriff's Department. Sergeant Cherry passed away following a head-on collision that occurred while he was conducting a routine patrol on July 29, 2023. Those who worked alongside him described the sergeant as a leader and mentor. They say he wore the badge with honor and that he truly carried out his oath as a law enforcement officer. Sergeant Cherry cared deeply about protecting his community, especially protecting children from potential harm. The outpouring of support shown to his family since his passing is a testament to his impact on the community he cared so much about, an impact that will be felt for some time to come. We lost a truly dedicated public servant and a great example of what it means to be a Tennessean. Mr. Speaker, I extend my deepest condolences to his wife and daughter.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of America's greatest ally in the Middle East--Israel, its people, and its right to defend itself against the horrifying Hamas terrorist attacks that have taken the lives of so many innocent individuals, including 33 Americans. Since that deadly attack, I have been working to assist Tennesseans and their families and friends in Israel in their attempts to come home. I have also joined members of the Tennessee delegation in a letter to President Biden urging him to support Israel by any means possible, including by providing any weapons and munitions necessary and punishing all involved in aiding the Hamas terrorists. Lastly, I was proud to be an original cosponsor of this resolution we are here voting on today, which reaffirms our commitment to Israel and condemns Hamas' brutal terrorist attacks. Mr. Speaker, we must do everything we can to protect and defend our friend Israel.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, supports our rural communities and strengthens our national security and food supply by continuing critical investments in agriculture research, rural broadband, and animal and plant health programs. The bill also provides sufficient funds to ensure the safety of food, drugs, and medical devices, which is especially important after the Biden administration's failure to protect our children from the baby formula debacle last year at the FDA. It reins in harmful regulations that dictate how poultry and livestock producers raise and market their animals. These provisions will be sure to help those farmers and agricultural producers in my district and across Tennessee who are fed up with bureaucrats in Washington telling them how to farm and tend to their land and animals.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are fulfilling our commitment to our country's veterans by fully funding veterans' healthcare programs, veterans' benefits, and Veterans Affairs programs in the fiscal year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Not only are we fulfilling our promise to those veterans who have served our country, but we are taking our efforts up a notch to go above and beyond what the VA is already doing by increasing funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Prosthetic Research Program. I am a proud supporter of this program, and I requested that the Appropriations Committee fully fund this program to the level included in the bill, which is $938 million. That is a $22 million or 2.5 percent increase as compared to fiscal year 2023 and is in line with the President's budgetary request. The VA's Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service is the largest and most comprehensive provider of prosthetic devices and sensory aids in the world. This funding will go a long way in making sure the VA has the necessary funds to research ways to restore veterans' abilities to function within their families, communities, and workplaces. This increased funding will also help the researchers within the VA research program recover from slowed research because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustained and predictable funding growth for VA research is imperative to help ensure the best return on spending to improve the health of veterans and all Americans. Although the VA's Medical and Prosthetic Research Program is specifically dedicated to improving the health and well-being of those who have served the United States in uniformed services, it has had a tremendous impact on the care of all Americans. The research conducted within this program has led the way in many different healthcare fields, including the treatment of digestive diseases. There is no better way to utilize our tax dollars than by contributing to a cause that will help restore veterans' functionality and also lead to advancements in medical care for all Americans. Additionally, the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which has direct ties to my district and constituents, has a proud, longstanding, and multifaceted partnership with the Veterans Administration in Nashville and the mid-South across clinical care, medical training, and research activities. They are proud to join me in supporting increased funding for this medical research program within the VA healthcare system. Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is that medical research at the VA not only helps those that have put it all on the line in service to this country--some sacrificing pieces of their body that they will never get back--it helps all Americans, as I have already mentioned. This is a great use of taxpayer funds, and I couldn't be prouder to support this initiative to fund this program at the level I have already mentioned. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members on both sides of the aisle to support this provision in the fiscal year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, this week, House Republicans are continuing to deliver on our commitment to America--a Nation that is safe--by providing the Department of Defense with the facilities it needs to protect us from foreign adversaries. One of the bills we will consider is the fiscal year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill that funds the Department of Defense facilities and veterans' healthcare programs. We don't stop there. This bill prohibits the use of funds to promote or advance the destructive critical race theory and prohibits the Biden administration's executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion. There is more work to be done to get our military back to the world's elite fighting force focused on combating adversaries. By taking these small steps to eliminate fraud, waste, abuse, and unnecessary programs, we are taking the right first steps.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, for the first time in my entire tenure in Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives will be considering two appropriations bills this week that cut wasteful spending. Before the fact-checkers come after me, I will go ahead and say that I am sure it has been done before, but not in my time in Congress, which up until this year has been done under Democrat majority control. Here are just a few of the wasteful Washington programs House Republicans are aiming to cut in the appropriations process this week. In the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for fiscal year 2024, House Republicans prohibit using funds to promote or advance critical race theory. No taxpayer dollars should have ever been spent on this harmful, divisive and anti- American theory. The bill prohibits the Biden administration from implementing, administering, or enforcing any of President Biden's executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The executive branch should be focused on hiring our country's best and brightest, not on checking a certain box. The bill even rescinds billions in funds, like $1 billion for rural clean energy programs created in the Inflation Reduction Act on Green New Deal climate initiatives. Not only are these bills cutting wasteful Washington spending, but they are also advancing many conservative principles Tennesseans can be proud to support, such as: ending mail-order chemical abortion, directing the USDA Secretary to take action to prohibit the purchase of agricultural land by those associated with China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran, or even prohibiting funds for the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Mr. Speaker, all in all, I believe these are good provisions in these two bills. House Republicans are doing the good work on behalf of the American people to responsibly fund the Federal Government, cut wasteful spending, and return the focus of our government back to where priorities should lie and not the woke initiatives of Green New Deal Democrats.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, as a Christian, a father, and conservative Member of Congress, I make no secret about it. I am absolutely 100 percent, unapologetically pro-life. I believe life begins at conception, and I believe that we must do everything we can to protect the innocent children living in their mother's wombs who are unable to protect themselves. This week, House Republicans and the House will be considering H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for fiscal year 2024. This bill not only funds many valuable programs on which our farmers and families rely to get food and fiber to our tables, but it also funds the Food and Drug Administration which plays a vital role in the food and drug safety of our country. Recently, under President Joe Biden, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has done the unthinkable: It has approved and expanded the use of mifepristone--a drug that induces a chemical abortion--for delivery by mail. This is wrong on so many levels. For starters, let me be clear: this is a deadly drug not only for the baby in the womb, but it can also be deadly for the expectant mother taking it. According to a scholarly article in ``Issues in Law and Medicine'' titled: ``Deaths and Severe Adverse Events after the use of Mifepristone as an Abortifacient from September 2000 to February 2019,'' out of 2,660 codable adverse reactions, 20 resulted in deaths, 529 were life-threatening to the mother, and 1,957 were severe adverse reactions. Given the potentially deadly side effects, what possible justification does the FDA have to approve such a dangerous drug for distribution through the mail, allowing patients to self-administer it without close medical supervision given the potentially dangerous side effects? Giving a political payback to the abortion industrial complex is not a justification. In fact, there is no justification whatsoever, in my view. Regardless of where you stand on the debate about abortion, this is truly abhorrent. I don't believe anyone in their right mind would say that this drug is safe for human consumption. We already know for sure that consuming this drug ends one human life and it has the potential to actually end two lives every time a pregnant woman takes it. That is why Republicans have included language in the appropriations bill that funds the FDA that prohibits the use of this dangerous and deadly mail-order chemical abortion drug. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle can recognize the clear and present danger this FDA policy represents and make the commonsense decision to support this provision rather than trying to strip it out in the amendment process. We can only hope for a future where these practices finally come to an end. Until then, conservatives like me will continue fighting to rein in the FDA's reckless approval of dangerous drugs that put women's health in danger and to keep all innocent and voiceless children safe from this abhorrent practice.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, this week House Republicans and the House of Representatives will be considering the fiscal year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill that prioritizes agencies and programs that protect our Nation's food and drug supply and support America's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, like the ones I represent in Tennessee. As a farmer and former State agriculture commissioner, I cannot overly stress the importance of the programs in this bill and how farmers and families rely on them. Whether it is rural broadband, WIC, or supplemental nutrition, the programs in this bill go a long way to make sure folks have enough food and fiber to be productive citizens in our society. That is not all this bill does: it reins in wasteful Washington spending, protects the lives of unborn children, and prohibits agricultural land purchases by those associated with foreign adversaries. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the work of the Appropriations Committee to include these provisions.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are doing everything we can to investigate the politicization and weaponization of the Federal Government. In fact, the House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government heard testimony from New York Post reporter Emma-Jo Morris, whose reporting about Hunter Biden's laptop was censored by almost every social media platform in the country in coordination with the most powerful levers of the Federal Government to silence Americans' First Amendment right to free speech. Let the record show that Ms. Morris' reporting was factual, as confirmed by multiple outlets after the fact, and that this egregious abuse of power was so serious and so detrimental to our free society that a Federal District Court has enjoined White House and government officials from communicating with social media companies for the purpose of censoring or suppressing free speech on their platforms. Mr. Speaker, these nefarious actions by the White House and Federal Government agencies are utterly shameful and, frankly, un-American and must never, ever happen again.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Chair, with thousands of Fourth of July vacations lying in ruins, it is vitally important for accountability as to what went so catastrophically wrong with our Nation's aviation transportation system. That is why I was proud to author my amendment to require the GAO to report to Congress on the actions of the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration related to this travel nightmare.

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, which requires a GAO report on the recent mass flight cancellations and delays that crippled our Nation surrounding the Fourth of July holiday. Mr. Chair, listen to these headlines: From Newsweek: ``July 4th Travel Chaos as Thousands of Airline Passengers Face Cancellations.'' From the Associated Press: ``Travelers endure another day of airport agony.'' From the Insider news site: ``Get ready for a flightmare: What to expect if you are one of the 4 million Americans flying this Independence Day weekend.'' Mr. Chair, I include in the Record each of these articles. [From Newsweek.com, June 29, 2023] July 4th Travel Chaos as Thousands of Airline Passengers Face Cancellations (By Khaleda Rahman) Hundreds of flights in the U.S. have been canceled Thursday, a worrying indication of the chaos summer travelers could endure as they prepare to fly during the busy July 4 weekend. Airline passengers suffered through yet another day of delayed and canceled flights on Wednesday, with the East Coast continuing to be the hardest hit as storms pummel the region. Around 1,200 U.S. flights were canceled on Wednesday, while nearly 7,000 were delayed, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. By early Thursday, 344 flights within, into and out of the U.S. had been canceled and at least 500 more were delayed. Of the cancelled flights, 78 had been scheduled to fly in or out of New Jersey's Newark Liberty Airport, 74 were at Denver airport, and 62 at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration expects Thursday to be the busiest travel day of the long weekend, with more than 52,500 total flights. United Airlines, which uses Newark airport as its New York area hub, canceled 263 flights on Thursday, the most among U.S. airlines for a sixth straight day. ``We're beginning to see improvement across our operation. We expect to cancel far fewer seats today compared to yesterday and our baggage backlog at Newark has dropped more than 30 percent since Tuesday, and off-duty flight attendants are calling in from across the country to staff open trips,'' United said in a statement to Newsweek on Wednesday night. ``It's all-hands-on-deck as our pilots get aircraft moving, contact center teams work overtime to take care of our customers, and our airport customer service staff works tirelessly to deliver bags and board flights. As our operation improves in the days ahead, we will be on track to restore our operation for the holiday weekend.'' Many passengers who were left stranded have taken to social media to express their anger, with some saying they were forced to sleep in airport terminals. ``My wife & 2 toddlers are sleeping in an airport terminal tonight because @united bumped the flight three times, put on standby for a midnight flight, then bumped again until tomorrow morning,'' a Twitter user named John wrote. ``On hold w a rep since 3 pm today. Nobody at counters. They don't care.'' Some, including Margo Osborne, said they would never fly with certain airlines again. ``Will never fly @united again!'' Osborne tweeted. ``1000s stranded at Newark, after countless flights canceled. No one allowed to retrieve checked bag, even if u have medical equip packed inside. Customer service was worst I've seen.'' United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has blamed a shortage of federal air traffic controllers for massive disruptions at its Newark hub last weekend. Over 150,000 customers in the New York City area were impacted because of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ``staffing issues and their ability to manage traffic,'' Kirby wrote in a memo to employees on Monday night, according to Fox Business. ``The FAA frankly failed us this weekend.'' ``We will always collaborate with anyone seriously willing to join us to solve a problem,'' an FAA spokesperson told Newsweek. The spokesperson said the FAA is ``working closely with airlines to keep aircraft moving safely and efficiently over the Fourth of July travel period.'' They also pointed to weekly updates on the FAA's website with preliminary data on the causes of delays. ``Current delay data shows the vast majority are due to weather and volume,'' the spokesperson said. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose department includes the FAA, took to social media on Wednesday to reassure travelers that the FAA is working to ``find solutions.'' ``We are closely watching air travel this week. Weather has been rough, especially in the last four or five days, it's caused a lot of cancellations and delays for many passengers around the country,'' he said in a video posted on Twitter. ``We've known that summer is going to be a stress test on the system. The good news is we've seen a lot of progress this year through Memorial Day and also a major improvement to passenger rights compared to a year ago . . . FAA is continuing to work around the clock with airlines and within FAA's own operations to find solutions, get creative, make sure the system is as resilient as possible.'' Last week, Buttigieg issued a new warning to airlines, telling them that flights could be disrupted because some planes lack updated equipment to prevent interference from new 5G wireless service. He said only planes retrofitted with the right equipment will be allowed to land when visibility is poor, such as during bad weather.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act will impact anyone boarding a plane in the United States. The bill improves runway safety, enhances cybersecurity, and upgrades the all-important air traffic control system. It also works to address staffing shortages facing the airlines, the FAA, and the NTSB. House Republicans have crafted an FAA authorization bill of substance, one that makes critical improvements in aviation and promotes oversight over the agencies regulating the industry, and we will see even more oversight if my amendment is passed. It requires the Government Accountability Office to issue a report explaining what caused the thousands of flight cancellations around the July Fourth holiday. Madam Speaker, you won't find many existing diversity and inclusion programs in this legislation, but you will find policies that make the skies safer for all passengers no matter their race or their background.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, about 20 miles outside my district, in Franklin, Tennessee, a 63-year-old is facing some of the worst charges on the books, including assault and rape. It breaks my heart to say these crimes involved children as young as 9 years old. Investigators have identified several victims, but they are asking more to come forward as some of these crimes go back more than a decade. Police say the accused predator targeted playgrounds and lured young boys under the guise that he was a soccer coach recruiting for his team. Days after this news broke, families learned the man accused of violating their community, their children, had lived there for 20 years but had no business being there. The accused man is an illegal immigrant. I signed a letter, joined by Members of the Tennessee delegation, led by Senator Marsha Blackburn, asking the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas several questions, including why this man was able to go under the radar for so long. This is a very grim example of the very real consequences open border policies are having on State after State, county after county, community after community. Nearly 20,000 pounds of fentanyl have been seized at the border since this fiscal year started last October. That is already more than last fiscal year's total, and we still have more than 2 months left in this one. Furthermore, since October 1, Customs and Border Protection officials have caught more than 125 people trying to cross the southern border who are on the terrorist watch list. No one in this body should glaze over a number like that. Let me repeat: 125 possible terrorists have tried to enter our country since last October. That is just the number we know about. That is more than fiscal years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 combined. How many, we might ask, have managed to cross that we don't know about? We know, for example, that 1.5 million illegal immigrants have successfully evaded law enforcement since this administration took over the border. How many of that 1.5 million were, in fact, terrorists? How many were smuggling drugs that will kill our young people? How many are sexual offenders who will abuse our children? Yet, in May, the Biden administration announced it would be releasing a flood of immigrants into the United States with no way of keeping track of them. Instead of getting a grip on this humanitarian and national security crisis, this President and his administration have been busy fighting title 42 and the Trump-era remain in Mexico policy. To be fair, the President did make his first-ever trip to the border, in his 50-year political career, in January. As we continue to see records being broken, crime soaring, fentanyl popping up in all corners of our country and taking the lives of an entire generation of young people, overdose deaths rising, Madam Speaker, I rise today to once again implore President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas to do their constitutional duty and secure our southern border.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, the American people heard a stunning testimony from Special Counsel John Durham last week during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on his report examining the origins of the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation against then-Presidential candidate Donald Trump. During the committee hearing, Special Counsel Durham testified that the FBI did not have an adequate predicate to launch the investigation, the FBI failed to examine exculpatory evidence and interview key witnesses, and the FBI abused its Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act authorities. Special Counsel Durham also said that he was not aware of any evidence of collusion between President Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia. As an attorney, I am alarmed by these revelations. The good folks of middle Tennessee deserve better from our country's premier law enforcement agency. House Republicans will do everything in our power to ensure our law enforcement institutions are carrying out the law equally so that we can end the two-tiered justice system in this country.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, this week, House Republicans are committed to fulfilling our Commitment to America to end President Biden's border crisis and restore a nation that is safe. Last month, the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning the use of public schools to house illegal immigrants. Now, this week, we plan to pass H.R. 3941, the Schools Not Shelters Act, which prohibits the use of public elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education to provide shelter for illegal immigrants. As many children across our country continue to recover from the pandemic-era learning loss, schools should be focused on helping students recover. By housing illegal immigrants on school campuses, children are being put at risk. Elected officials who endorse these plans are sending a clear message to children and their parents that illegal immigrants and President Biden's failure to secure the southern border matter more than their children's education. Now, make no mistake, President Biden's dangerous open-border policies are at fault for this dire situation. In the first 100 days, the President took more than 94 executive actions on immigration that immediately signaled to the world that our borders were open for illegal immigration and that they could count on President Biden to hold the door open for them, even if it meant sacrificing the safety and security of our country. Since taking office, there have been over 5.5 million illegal crossings of our southern border. In addition to that, approximately 1.5 million immigrants have evaded apprehension by our hardworking Customs and Border Patrol agents. This humanitarian crisis has gotten so bad that New York City's Immigration and Customs Enforcement office is fully booked through October 2032. Had President Biden not halted construction of the southern border wall, ended President Trump's successful remain in Mexico policy, and concluded use of title 42, I am sure this historic crisis would not be this disastrous. Just like we have seen with Bidenomics, ``Bidengration'' has completely failed the American people.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, each time I meet with officials from the Nashville International Airport, which I have the honor of representing in Congress, topics consistently include workforce shortages and recruitment issues. That is why I rise today in support of H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act. This legislation will streamline Federal Aviation Administration operations, help grow the aviation workforce, invest in airport infrastructure, and improve the flying experience for millions of Americans. It will improve the passenger experience by making key improvements to the air traffic control system. The aviation industry supports 11 million jobs. This bill aims to ensure it continues to grow and flourish for years to come. It supports programs that will attract more pilots, mechanics, and assembly workers. It also helps ensure those folks are supported and that FAA rules and regulations aren't getting in the way of innovation, competition, or employee retention.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 118th Congress for restoring the oversight function of the House. Since winning the majority, House Republicans have held 565 oversight hearings, compelled Biden officials to testify 561 times, sent 862 letters to the administration, and issued 45 subpoenas, and we are just getting started. Our Founders never intended for a President to be able to bypass Congress through executive action, like forgiving more than $400 billion in loan debt with the stroke of a pen. They never intended for a Federal agency to be able to circumvent the people's Representatives and use their regulatory authority to advance so-called progressive ideas. The judicial branch is doing its part to curb the rogue--often unconstitutional--actions of this President, but the American people can count on this half of the legislative branch to conduct its critical oversight function, just as our Founders intended.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, one of the key tenets of House Republicans' Commitment to America was restoring our Nation's safety and security. That means passing a strong and fiscally responsible National Defense Authorization Act, otherwise known as the NDAA, which is our country's primary legislation authorizing spending levels and providing substantive policy directives for the United States Armed Forces and the Department of Defense. Thankfully, that is exactly what House Republicans will be doing this week when we consider and pass the fiscal year 2024 NDAA. The NDAA for the coming year being considered by the House this week includes many priorities and provisions that middle Tennesseans can be proud to support. For starters, it ends the radical woke ideologies being forced on our servicemembers by prohibiting funding for teaching critical race theory. It repeals the authorization for the Department of Defense's unnecessary chief diversity officer and eliminates funding for drag shows and similar events. Along with these commonsense measures that passed the House Armed Services Committee by a 48-1 vote, the National Defense Authorization Act gives our military the tools they need to counter the Chinese Communist Party's aggression, increases oversight of the Biden administration after their disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and saves taxpayers $40 billion by cutting inefficient defense programs, obsolete weapons systems, and unnecessary Pentagon bureaucracy. All in all, I believe this bill contains good provisions that return our military's focus back on readiness and the defense of our Nation, not wokeness and progressive posturing.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, ``What did the President know and when did he know it?'' That famous question was from former Tennessee Senator Howard Baker, and it is as important today as it was during the Watergate investigation. This time, the question is: What did the former Vice President and now-President know and when did he know it? As House Republicans continue to dig into Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings, it is becoming more apparent that President Biden not only likely knew about these corrupt exchanges but he may have even been in the room for some of them. Republicans have proven tens of millions of dollars were funneled to the Biden family from foreign nationals. Republicans have also uncovered an effort by his administration to cover up Hunter Biden's Federal crimes and his father's involvement while they continued targeting his top political opponent. The American people deserve answers, and we are committed to finding them.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, since taking the majority in the House in January, Republicans have been consistently holding hearings to conduct oversight and demand accountability of the Biden administration when it comes to the humanitarian crisis at our southern border. For years now, sensible Republicans have done everything they can to offer solutions to this humanitarian crisis in an effort to halt illegal immigration but have been met with opposition by those on the other side of the aisle that prefer the open-border policies of this President and his administration. Unfortunately, despite these repeated attempts to bring this administration to the table to enact sensible immigration reform, which the American people support, President Biden has done the opposite. In fact, in President Biden's first 100 days in office, he took 94 executive actions on immigration, perhaps none as costly as halting the construction of the southern border wall. He also ended the remain in Mexico program, which had proven to be a successful deterrent at the border. Now, the good people at the Customs and Border Protection, who are working hard under strenuous circumstances to protect our borders, have seized over 17,000 pounds of fentanyl in fiscal year 2023, including a 14 percent increase in the month of April alone, compared to the prior month. In addition to these alarming figures, so far in fiscal year 2023, 96 people were stopped while attempting to cross the southern border whose names could be found on the terrorist watch list. To put this into perspective, during the entire last fiscal year, there were only 98 arrests, and that was more than in fiscal years 2017 through 2021 combined. Madam Speaker, it is clear to the American people that President Biden's Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is directly responsible for this abhorrent failure. That is why, much to my regret, I have no choice but to continue my call for impeaching Secretary Mayorkas, with the hope that the Biden administration will go ahead and replace him with someone willing to actually take on the task of securing our border. At the very least, the appropriate House committees must begin considering and debating impeachment articles. Madam Speaker, one of the most rewarding opportunities I am afforded as a Member of Congress is getting to welcome new citizens who have recently been naturalized into the United States. I repeatedly take the time to point out the perseverance and dedication it takes to become a U.S. citizen the legal and right way. It goes without saying: These folks will forever be able to hold their heads high, knowing that they respected our laws even before they became a citizen of this great country. I will also add that because of my familiarity with this process and seeing what so many have to endure to come here legally, I have one more reason out of many to fight against illegal immigration. That is why I will continuously demand the Biden administration and Secretary Mayorkas uphold our immigration laws, and I will engage in House Republicans' oversight efforts until the American people can be confident the administration is following the laws that govern immigration in this country. Madam Speaker, I ask all Members of Congress to join me in demanding accountability from President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are following through on our commitment to hold government accountable. Whether it be passing the REINS Act or the Separation of Powers Restoration Act or compelling many Biden administration officials to testify for the first time in over a year, the American people can see we are hard at work. There is still work to do. Since the President took office, he has finalized 644 new regulations, which come with a $376 billion price tag that negatively impacts our economy and requires more than 230 million additional hours of paperwork. Instead of burdening our job creators, House Republicans want to get government out of their way through legislation like the CHOICE Arrangement Act. We are also working to get government out of our kitchens, which is why we passed the Save Our Gas Stoves Act. This administration has never met a regulation it didn't like, but rest assured, the House will continue reining in the Biden administration's executive overreach.